I never attended such a dialog

The Jakarta Post of Saturday, Aug. 1, 1998 edition, page 2, published an interview titled Bloodshed possible over referendum by Putu Wirata. Reading this interview carefully I noticed that in column 4 there is a significant error of fact which could seriously mislead readers: "We recently held a dialog (involving the two camps) in Baucau. It was attended by the governor (Abilio Jose Osorio Soares), the Dili bishop (Filipe Ximenes Belo), intellectuals..."

I never attended such a dialog held in Baucau because Baucau is under the jurisdiction of the Baucau bishop, Msgr. Basilio de Nascimento. Very occasionally, I go there as it is my hometown. The fact reported, therefore, was seriously inaccurate.

That's why I am coming to you to request that such a significant error of fact should be corrected in a subsequent edition of the Post.

Msgr. CARLOS FILIPE X. BELO.SDB

Bishop of Dili Diocese

East Timor

Note: We checked with the chief of the Udayana Regional Military Command, Maj. Gen. Adam R. Damiri. He said he was referring to a meeting on July 19 in Baucau between United Nations special envoy Jamsheed Marker with local community leaders, including Bishop Belo.

-- Editor